Lost Ark’s Community Lead Talks Release of its ‘Biggest Endgame Update Ever’

The Amazon-published MMO Lost Ark has moved into its next phase. Fresh off a successful summer, the game launched Arkesia Ignited in early October, its latest update taking players to the region of North Kurzan. Game Rant recently spoke with community lead Roxanne Sabo about the release of Arkesia Ignited and how the game grew to its current state.

The action of Lost Ark’s first chapter comes to a head in North Kurzan, though the story doesn’t quite end there, said Sabo. Developers at Korean studio Smilegate have introduced new systems affecting how characters are built, further empowering characters to face greater challenges like they did with gear transcendence in the past, as well as kicking off the war against Kazeros in earnest. Plus, Sabo hinted at a few things on the horizon. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Welcome to North Kurzan

Q: How does it feel to be bringing the game’s first chapter to a close?

A: Currently we’re right in the climax of the first chapter, but we still have many more stories to tell even before it comes to a close. The war against Kazeros had just begun. The Legion Commanders that once were defeated gathered up and are threatening the peace of Arkesia. Adventurers and the Allied Forces still need to find a way to stop Kazeros and save Arkesia from being doomed! Right now things in Arkesia are very high-stakes, and we’re excited for players to experience this epic moment.

Q: What can you say about this update and its implications for Lost Ark’s story?

A: The story of North Kurzan is where the all-out war against Kazeros starts. The quickly turning tides of war require adventurers to make important, impactful choices. Our heroes have been trying to stop Kazeros’ resurrection, as Azena and Shandi did years ago when they worked with Luterra to seal away Kazeros.

However, Armen seems to think differently.

He says that in order to completely destroy Kazeros, the adventurer should not stop Kazeros’s resurrection. He believes Kazeros’s resurrection is already right around the corner, and that he needs to be ended after this occurs. Adventurers must make a choice quickly.

Q: Can you talk about new mechanics introduced in North Kurzan?

A: There are so many! The Ark Passive System to change how characters are built, Hyper Awakening Skills which will unlock new moves and characters for each class, updated progression systems across Tier 4, and new pieces of content such as Kurzan Front and Kenuart Fortress. There is a ton that players will be able to experience and enjoy for the first time, and that will change how the game is played.

Q: What challenges has this upcoming update presented and how did you find solutions for them?

A: We were eager to bring the massive Tier 4 update and content to Lost Ark in the West, but we knew it would be a bit challenging and a different experience due to the fact that the game has only been out for about 2 and a half years in our region. To help approach this, we’ve had to continually make tweaks and changes, like spacing out the release of the Behemoth and Aegir Raids on both sides of the major update, and releasing Hyper Awakening Skills so that players would have that extra power boost available to help them clear new and challenging content.

Q: How does North Kurzan compare to other regions in the Lost Ark world?

A: North Kurzan, similarly to South Kurzan, is a harsh and barren land that is permeated by evil energy, seeping from Kazeros’s body that is sealed away inside of the Antares volcano. While adventurers have previously explored ravaged lands, there is nothing quite like the inherent evilness that is imparted by Kazeros’s presence anywhere else in Arkeisa.

Q: What inspired North Kurzan’s identity?

A: North Kurzan is the northern part of Kurzan, and is similar to South Kurzan. Until recently, it was part of the barren land where Assar Delains have been fighting against Vinus Delains, only looking to survive another day.

But Northern Kurzan is where the Antares volcano is located, the location where Kazeros’s soul was sealed 500 years ago. As the seal is about to break, the team tried to express the fear and despair that the space brings to all living creatures in the land.

Finding Today’s Lost Ark

Q: Lost Ark has grown a lot since launch. How have the lessons over the last few years informed what players will experience in North Kurzan?

A: The feedback and learnings from throughout the years have definitely fed into the new systems that are being released with Tier 4, with new features like the Ark Passive System arriving to change how players can build their characters and manage their gear and accessories. The story that players will experience in North Kurzan, however, is the next piece of a story that has long been developed, and we’re excited for players to experience it!

Q: Have you been planning for the next chapter of the story? What does “Chapter Two” look like in your mind?

A: The future direction of Lost Ark’s story is a secret that is kept closely guarded. We can’t share anything now, but fans will be able to follow updates through Lost Ark and Amazon Games social channels and website.

Q: When developing mechanics connected to the narrative, do you start with the story and develop mechanics around it, or craft the story around certain mechanics you want to use?

A: Lost Ark is being developed using both the ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ methods. The most important narratives of Lost Ark are conveyed to the staff using the ‘top-down’ method, but the specific details are decided in a huge meeting with many staff members using the ‘bottom-up’ method. Lots of team members share their ideas, and those that resonate get to become a part of Arkesia’s epic stories.

Q: Can you tease anything about Lost Ark ‘s roadmap going forward?

A: While we aren’t ready to share any specifics on the coming roadmap, we can tell you to look towards the end of the year for the next update–we won’t make players wait until 2025 to uncover what’s coming next!

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

A: With the release of Lost Ark’s biggest endgame update ever, it really is the perfect time for players to come to Arkesia for the first time, return to it, or continue to experience all that the game has to offer. Though we refer to Tier 4 as the endgame, it really is the beginning of a new chapter that players can enjoy!

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